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"He's Been Watching The Whole Time"
John 21:1-7

Seven of those who were to be the special messengers - Apostles of Jesus Christ, sent by Him as He was sent by His Father - seven of them, a complete and whole circle representing all of the Apostolate and His servants, had gathered themselves together. It's good when the servants of God can get together. It's good to commiserate and just hang out with each other, having a safe space to let us be us, and you be you, and me be me, and we be we - sometimes it's good to know that we have people that know us and accept us just as we are. Knowing each other as they did, no one was surprised when Peter said, "I'm going fishing." They were so not surprised that they said, "Uh, yeah. You're a fisherman. We like fishing too! We're going with you man." They needed a moment of normalcy. It is important to remain connected to the productive things that have been in your life. And so they went out, got on a boat, went fishing...and caught nothing. Now, I know that sometimes people fish and don't have success. But Peter was a pro. James & John? Pro fishermen too! That's how they made a living. But not that night.

When morning came Jesus was on the shore calling out to them, asking if they had caught anything, but they didn't know it was Him. Pause here. When you are unsuccessful, discouraged, troubled, or in trouble, can you tell when God is calling out to you? I know that our hyperspiritual super-saints out there think that they always succeed, always have the victory, have claimed their blessing, never get sick, and never ever worry. But I'm asking some real folk, have you ever been in something and needed to hear from God? I submit to you that God was watching all the time and called out to you but you may not have known it was Him. Doesn't matter how close you've been, how much you talked to Him before, sometimes you will be unaware that He's there watching you & even calling out to you because you have other things on your mind!

In needing something to accomplish what has to be done, it can look like He's not there. I heard before from a song by Pastor Derrick Brinkley of Detroit, Michigan that when it seems that God is not around, He's the closest when it seems He can't be found. Let me recommend:

1. Use What You Have v3
- Peter said, "I go a fishing." He was a fisherman. That was his skill, his trade, his training. To some it may not be as impressive as seminary education, experience as a CEO, or regularity on an entertainment platform. But God knew what you know how to do before He called you to ministry. He knows who you are and what you can do! That has value, if not now, then later! Don't be afraid to use what you have!

2. Use What You Heard v6
- They didn't know that it was the voice of the Lord. What they knew is that they had no success doing what they knew to do while they were doing it their way. That's the key. Your skills are great to have. But sometimes they need to be applied somewhere else - on the other side of where you've been working. Cast on the right side - on the side that you have disregarded and thought was the wrong side! I think we easily can get caught up working on the wrong side because that's where we have been. It may not be a big move. But paying attention to instructions can fine tune your process and get you the success that you need. Don't be so big-headed that no one can ever tell you anything! Use what you heard!

3. Understand & Get In A Hurry v7
- John said, "It is the Lord." Peter didn't debate. He didn't hesitate. Once he heard it was Jesus, he knew what he had to do. He understood that Jesus had been monitoring what was going on, that He was aware of their situation, that He had not left or forsaken them, & that He had with them the whole time! He understood and he got in a hurry to get to Jesus! Sometimes you can't make much preparation. Just grab what you've got and dive in! If you understand that it was the Lord who spoke, the Lord who guided you, the Lord who came to see about you, get in a hurry and get yourself near to Jesus!

I don't have much. I don't know much! I can't do much! But I heard the voice of Jesus, started working it from the other side! Understand! Get in a hurry! Get to Jesus!